ORMOC BAY (PHILIPPINES)- A shark you don’t meet everyday. Researchers from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s research ship, RV Petrel captured rare footage of an elusive bluntnose six gill shark, while exploring a wreck off the coast of the Philippines earlier this month.
Using cameras on their remotely operated submersible vehicle to learn more about the shipwreck they suddenly saw something coming out of the deep sea darkness. The crew zoomed in to catch a better look and were able to identify the species–a bluntnose sixgill shark.
Reaching up to 15 feet long, the bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) is one of the largest sharks in the world, but uncommon in the area. Reflecting primitive characteristics from the Triassic period, the sixgill shark has more extinct relatives than alive.
Read more about the encounter on the website of Paul Allen.